To be on any Forbes list is an honor, but the Top 100 Websites for Women showcases the sites that have compelling content with a female focus. Way back in 2005 I decided to make an online presence discussing technology not only as someone with a tech background but also proudly as a mother and a woman. It seems (hem hem) that when it comes to spending decisions, women are in control.

The other list that someday I hope to be on is the Worlds Biggest Givers List. Aw heck, I am just happy to think of any list other then my food shopping list. With three growing boys that clean out whatever food I seem to bring in the house, I am food shopping quite often these days. Luckily my tween is a techie like his mama, so we enjoy spending time at tech stores as well (no list needed).

March 29, 2011

This week has been full of surprises. After finding out about the PC Mag list a few days ago, yesterday I logged on to find out that I was on the Time 140 Best Twitter Feed list. I first saw the Time 140 Best Twitter list while doing my morning online reading in my sweats (and procrastinating from my attempt at a daily exercise routine). I was also recovering from a busy morning getting three boys to school. Then I decided to ask my peeps to click over to the Time list and pwetty please give me a thumbs up vote. Which was probably really just more procrastination from exercising.

Ok, Well the list was alphabetical order but still - how often do I get to be "seated" next to Barack Obama and Bill Gates - even if it is online?

Umm, never before this time.

Best of all there was also some great women tweeters on the list that I am also honored to be in good company with. No - not Lady Gaga although I love her music. But technology reporter and mom extraordinaire @NataliMorris and @rachelsterne (and that is just a few of the "R"s).

People have asked me if I automate any of my tweets, which I am surprised they even ask (and I promptly say "no"). I am an information obsessed person - so when I read online articles that I think are relevant to my Twitter audience, I tweet them. Yes - the good old fashioned, non- automatic sharing of something interesting. I share things with my Twitter community like I would share information with an interesting book group. I also enjoy reading my communities' Tweets as well.

Sharing on Twitter was (and is) something that I could keep up with no matter how busy I got with family commitments. Twitter became a solace that was my connection to the outside world while balancing taking care of boyz world. I even find out about events from my Twitter stream before I read about it in the news or online. As soon as I turned on my computer the morning of the Japan Tsunami and Earthquake, I saw the Twitter chatter and raced to the news sites to read more.

After this post goes live I will be off to carpool to pickup my boyz, wondering what it would be like to really sit next to Bill Gates and Barack Obama. As well as feeling excited that a magazine (PC Magazine) that I have been reading for years decided to visit my Twitter stream.

May 20, 2009

I am feeling my muscles growing as I type this. When I first became a mom I felt powerless and invisible compared to my life as a Senior Manager at a top consulting company. But in reality I knew that moms are the power consumers who make many purchasing decisions for their families. But I am happy to see the tides are turning, the age of the "power mom" is upon us.

Here are two quotes from Jessica Hogue's post that sums it up: "As CEOs of their households, Power Moms wield more influence than ever before" and "While reaching Power Moms may require more finesse than in years past, the opportunities to observe, engage and develop a truly holistic perspective of these women are there for willing marketers."

I am honored (and giddy) that they had a section for Tech Mom - defined as "Tech Mom are mom bloggers who are also PDA-toting, digital enthusiasts that love to stay connected". Even more giddy that TechMamas is listed as one of the Nielson Power Mom 50 - in that category (along with GeekMommy). The community section listed Silicon Valley Moms Group in the sections "Portals and Communities connecting moms, which is a community that is near and dear to my heart!

December 15, 2008

I was thrilled to be included in the Real Simple Holiday Blogathon. In honor of the holidays I thought I would cover multi-functional technologies for moms. These items make great gifts (gift of time) and help simply your day by enabling one gadget to be used for multiple tasks. I will be posting more about the items I discussed, but for now take a look and add your own tips. Click on the link below to read my Real Simple - Simply Stated blog post:

November 17, 2008

My Co-Founders and I am thrilled to have met the many dynamic mom bloggers across the Silicon Valley Moms Group network. Yesterday, I had the treat of meeting up with the Los Angeles moms blog for our Launch party (sponsored by GM). The party had a red carpet, mom comedy routines and celeb moms in attendance. I will be posting with more juicy details about our launch party in the next few days at the LA Moms Blog.

Here is a picture (many more will be added) of my fantasy - which was to "vacuum" the red carpet...

Being a working mom is such a unique experience, it is great to hear other voices like Charlene's to see different perspectives on common issues. I completely related to the summer scheduling challenges from her post "Schools Out, What Now". Especially when she said "My flexible, freelance schedule is a dream come true -- until summer
vacation hits". I am trying to schedule my three boys in camps they will enjoy so I can also have time to work, yet have still have time for summer roadtrips. It does give new meaning to the word "vacation". I think I may just use Charlene's strategy of spending the afternoons together.

May 24, 2007

This morning I received an email on my BlackBerry while I was cooking breakfast and making lunch for my three boys. It was from Jeremy Geelan who is the Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Social Computing Magazine. He asked if it was ok to include my post titled "Social Computing for Kids Around The World" in the magazine. I emailed back saying "Of course!", while packing up my son's lunch. Next thing I know, I received an email back saying that the post is up.

All of this before 8am in the morning. I can't imagine that the rest of my day will be as exciting.

But I wonder if limited computer screen time can be considered free play time? After my 8 year old son comes home from school the 2 days a week he does not have afterschool plans, and before his homework, I let him have free time on his computer (with parental controls). I know he enjoys watching music videos of his favorite songs from his iPod. He actually seems relaxed after his computer screen time. So what is the harm? He has some down time and mom has some time to make dinner and tend to his 4 year old twin brothers.

So far, the computer time is working as one of my 8 year old son's free play time activities. And I feel fine with that, as long as he combines that with the other active free play (non screen) activities he enjoys.

April 15, 2007

I have been ranting for some time about my challenges of finding the best parental controls for my 8 year old son's laptop. I finally implemented K9 Web Protection but my son still has moments of despair trying to get to web pages not on the approved list.

At the same time that was going on, I also happened to be linked up with a Producer from CNET
who wanted to come to my house to interview me on my adventures with
Internet parental controls. Which I was excited about, except for the
fact that I had to take a shower, put on real clothes other then
sweats, attempt to look presentable, push all the toys from my fort living room to the family room, coax my son into coming along for the ride and make sure my twins stayed late at preschool.

When the team arrived I felt at ease. The producer was a mother
herself and we compared notes on raising boys. There were two camera
men, one even did some decorating for me by moving things around so the
shot would look good. I always wondered how the houses with kids
looked clean in the interview videos. Now I know it is all an
illusion, which made me feel better. And my son had the exciting
opportunity to hold the camera.